My name is Sharon Garofalow. Based in So Cal, I am the mom to two amazing little boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. This is where I share a collection of cool, created by me or curated from around the web. I focus on untraditional party themes, unfussy fashion and creative activities for your modern family.cupcakesandcutlery@gmail.com

Have you ever heard of bunuelos before? I hadn’t either. Until my friend Roni posted that she made some in honor of her favorite show, Narcos on Netflix. But here’s the thing. There are two kinds of bunuelos, the Mexican version which is sweeter, more like a donut, and the Colombian version which is basically 95% cheese. Since Narcos is all about the drug trade in Colombia, of course you have to make the Colombian version. So that powdered sugar that you see in the photo is merely there to represent the idea of cocaine, not as a topping for these little fried treats. I thought about taking it a step further and rolling up some bills and round mirror, but I thought, “nah”. Phew. Glad I could clear that up. Roni was going to make these for me but had to go out-of-town at the last-minute. So she sent me a boxed mix and I went to work making these delicious bit sized doughy cheese balls. And be “me” I really mean my mom because I’m afraid of frying oil and she came over and did it for me.

This post is in partnership with Netflix. As part of their #StreamTeam I get to share with you all of my favorite shows on the platform. All opinions are always mine. Netflix is the best partner ever. They let me share creative posts, including those with fake cocaine. It’s a match made in heaven. But I digress. So, as I mentioned, these bunuelos are usually served with coffee. I’m not sure how many is considered a serving but once you have one you’ll probably need a few (hundred) more. They’re pretty good. The mix has simple instructions to follow on the back of the box. What isn’t in the box, however, is four cups of a hard cheese like cotija which I have there in the bowl. I picked up two packages at my local store and crumbled it. Roni also instructed me to add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the mix. Roni is a baker and decorator (a crazy talented one at that) so I did as she said.To get the right consistency, add a little bit of water or milk at a time. My mom ended up adding 12 tablespoons or 3/4 of a cup. The box said you would add about 1 tablespoon so I’m not sure what really happened there… The instructions say you want the dough to stay together but not be sticky. She rolled them in to golf ball sized balls prior to frying. When frying, make sure to not have the oil too hot or else they will brown on the outside and not cook all the way through. When you drop the balls in to the oil, they sink, then rise and then start spinning. It’s pretty fun to watch. Almost as much fun to watch as Narcos on Netflix. I’ve only seen half of the first season so far. I really need to get all caught up! Sometimes when I post about Netflix, I get a sense of who the super fans are. After posting something about Narcos, Roni reached out and asked if I knew when the second season was starting. I didn’t know but as soon as I found out, I made sure to let her know. Then she sent me a photo of a batch of bunuelos that she made in honor and that is how this post came to be. You should have seen my mom’s face when I asked her if this looked like the bunuelos were sitting on a mountain of cocaine…my job is so fun. When you remove the bunuelos from the oil, just let them drain on a paper towel lined plate and cool. These mo fo’s are HOT. The consistency is creamy and salty and vaguely cake like. If you aren’t a fan of smelly cheeses, you won’t like these. You can always substitute other cheeses to see what you like better. I’m wondering if you could use the shaker parmesan cheese? I think that would be totally tasty. But not at all Colombian. And in the perfect awkward segue, get excited because tons of Disney movies are making their way on to Netflix! It’s not everyday that Disney and cocaine are found in the same post, but today is that day.

Starting in September and beyond, Netflix will be allowed to stream all Disney films — including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm titles. All films released in theaters in 2016 are included in this deal. Which means, by the time you read this post, Zootopia is already available to watch. This is HUGE! Netflix is the only place you can find all these Disney movies, so now is your chance to get all caught up on any you may have missed!

My husband and I are currently OBSESSED with The Get Down. Like, the other day when we were at Disneyland, I was like, man I wish we were getting home earlier so I could watch another episode. That’s good. If you like old school hip hop beats, you’ll love it. I totally cried at the end of the 3rd episode. The storytelling is AMAZING! OH! and Fuller House has been renewed and new episodes will start airing December 9th!

Are you watching Narcos on Netflix? Will you watch ALL the Disney?

This post is sponsored by Netflix. Thank you for supporting the brands that let me create fun content for you and watch a lot of TV!

Moms get busy. This is no secret. Of course, we put our families first, but are we taking care of ourselves throughout the day too? Taking a break won’t get you off track. And there is no reason to feel guilty when you focus on yourself. I partnered with your new favorite snack, Café Breaks, to share 15 easy ways to take 15 minutes to focus on yourself . These breaks don’t have to be elaborate. They’re just supposed to make you happy and feel like the gal you were before you had a kids. Sometimes we forget about what truly makes us happy, as individuals, because we don’t think we have time for it. But it’s important to make the time. Of course, this gets easier as your kids get older. If you have toddlers, some of these may not be feasible. My kids are in 2nd and 5th grade and it’s AMAZING! Plus I think it’s super important for you to show your kids that you value yourself and your interests and that each family member is no more important than another. 1. Read a book. While you won’t get through much of it in 15 minutes, it will allow your brain to forget about the stresses of the day. I used to think I could only read on airplanes, when not traveling with my kids. But now I don’t believe that. You can read during the day or read at the same times as your kids during homework time. The books don’t have to be all brainy either. Sometimes the easy readers are exactly what you need!

2. Make some infused water. Although I start my day with coffee, I move on to water right after. But that can get boring. Take 15 minutes to prepare an infused water recipe. It takes almost no time at all but is such a treat! Flavored water is my jam.

3. Get out of the house and grab a drink. You can make your own cup of coffee. Duh. But a cup of coffee made by someone else, for you, tastes SO much better. Or pick up your favorite iced tea! Or try something new. This shouldn’t be a trek to some far off location. Just pop over to your neighborhood spot to grab a drink. It can totally lift your mood. Save the big excursions for your next coffee date with the girls. 4. Play your favorite game on the iPad. A good game of Candy Crush is good for the soul. But I have to admit that since I’m at a high level now, and it’s harder to level up. I had to download Candy Crush Soda Saga and Candy Crush Jelly Saga so I can actually play for a while. Or solitaire. I love me some solitaire.

5. Make a playlist. For me, music makes the world go around. I often find that I create playlists when I have tons of other things to do. But that’s ok. It makes me happy. I use Spotify and it’s super easy. I make them for all types of moods and then listen to them when I’m working, driving and cooking dinner.

6. Take a walk. Sometimes you just need to refresh yourself and get outside for a second. I’m not talking about exercise. Ew. Take a scenic walk, listen to some tunes, look around. Just get out of the house. Even a quick walk around the block is good enough. The fresh air will do you good and is a great way to focus on yourself. 7. Write something. Write in a journal or make a list of ideas of creative projects you want to tackle. I don’t personally have a journal. No wait, I have a blog! But I do like to write down things I’ve been thinking about whether it’s an idea for a craft or recipe. I can’t even tell you how gratifying it is to create a Target list! Maybe even make a bucket list!

8. Make an essential oil blend. I don’t know if you are in to the oils, but I totally am. While I believe they help with certain things like falling asleep and stomach aches, etc. I also just love how they smell! Put a little lavender in your diffuser and you’d swear you just walked in to a spa. OK, that might be an overstatement but taking a few minutes to make a blend that will brighten your mood is a great idea!

9. Swap out photos in your frames. I love the photos I have up around my house. But most are very old and we’ve taken so many amazing photos since those were framed. Taking a few minutes to sort through photos on your computer, or that you’ve already had printed is really fun. It’s a quick walk down memory lane. Then when they arrive (because no one GOES somewhere to print pictures anymore) you can put them in your frames and your whole family will love it!

10. Curl your hair. Or straighten it. Do whatever style you never have enough time to do in the morning. I get up at quarter to 6 every day so there’s no chance I’m getting up any earlier just to do my hair. Getting the kids off to school is the focus, my hair is not. But some days I like to try to at least look a little more presentable at pick up. Taking 15 minutes to make your hair cute does wonders for your overall outlook. At least it does for me anyway.11. Read a magazine. I have always been an avid reader but now they just stack up in my kitchen until they form a leaning tower. There’s always something I think that I should do instead of flip through a magazine. So when I actually do, it’s extra special. You can easily get through a magazine in 15 minutes, especially if it’s a design magazine. Doing this is in the middle of the day is so freeing!

12. Pour a glass of wine. (When it’s time-of-day-appropriate. I’d say no mimosas prior to 9 am…) You deserve it! A glass of wine while preparing dinner is amazing. And something I almost never do! I’m not suggesting you get hammered (but that’s totally up to you, I don’t really judge). I’ve also found that a nice glass of wine makes laundry folding a little easier to swallow.

13. Paint your nails. In an effort to save money, I’ve stopped getting regular pedicures. Tear. So my toes can end up looking like a hot mess. But taking the time to repaint them makes me feel a little more put together. I never attempt to create any nail art looks but a simple swipe of a trendy color is sometimes just what the doctor ordered.

14. Watch TV. Get caught up on your favorite TV show or watch part of a documentary! (This will run longer than 15 minutes. 15 minutes can turn in to a 36 hour binge REAL quick. Use caution). TV is my happy place. It’s my favorite way to wind down at night and an absolute treat to watch in the middle of the day! 15. Take a snack break. Next time you’re at the store, pick up a treat for yourself that you haven’t tried before. It doesn’t have to be super sinful and a billion calories. It could even be some exotic fruit you’ve been wanting to try. For me, anything that is mocha flavored (which means chocolate and coffee!) is something I need to try. These Café Breaks pudding snacks are perfect! This little treat won’t break the bank or your waistline. They’re gluten-free and 100 calories or less per cup and made with real milk. Awesome. I added a few roasted almonds to mine because I love a little crunch in my pudding. These delicious pudding snacks can be found at your local Ralphs grocery store (look for them by the unrefrigerated pudding in the snack aisle). But if mocha isn’t your thing, these Café Breaks puddings comes in several other delicious coffee focused flavors like Caramel Latte, Chai Latte, and French Vanilla Latte. Yum! These are also great to grab and go whether you are running errands or taking the kids to soccer practice.

These 15 activities are the perfect way to focus on yourself a little more without totally getting off your daily grind. Hopefully you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle your next big project. Cafe Breaks wants you to know that you deserve a treat and I couldn’t agree more.

Thank you for supporting the brands, like Café Breaks, who sponsor posts and let me show you ways to treat yo’self.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiveABox #CollectiveBiasMay is such a wonderful time of year! Spring has sprung and the weather has started to warm up. And we get to celebrate our favorite mothers on Mother’s Day. There are many wonderful mother figures in my life and I am so grateful for the time I get to spend with them. But this year, one mom in particular is blowing my mind (and, quite frankly, making me feel a little inadequate). This Mother’s Day, my sister-in-law will be celebrating her first as a mom of 4 kids. Her family recently fostered two toddler boys and it instantly doubled her family. She has handled this (and ALL the stress that comes with it) with such grace and love. She is truly a role model and deserves a little extra praise. But I also want to encourage her to find time for herself. Read through for a delicious adult-friendly Buttered Cheerios™ recipe with Truffle Oil that she can easily make during their regular snack time!

Tell me I’m not the only one who gains, like, 15 pounds over the holidays? I mean, you go to people’s homes and you HAVE to eat what they are serving. You don’t want to be rude, right? Sure, I’ll try your deep-fried turkey. Yes, I’ll eat every holiday cookie you put out on your table. That is what a good guest does. So I’ve decided I’ll keep my party appetizers healthy this year. But just because they are better for you, doesn’t mean they are any less delicious. Here’s how to put out a pretty party spread, to please your guests, and not get you blamed for causing love handles.

Ahhhhhh. Fall is in the air. It’s time to start thinking about those favorite holiday snacks. For years, I waited on my best friend’s mother-in-law to start sending out her coveted Chex Mix. It’s true, not all Chex Mix is created equal. And since I could never bribe the recipe out of her, I decided to create my own. This Chex Mix recipe is crazy good and super savory, which I’m totally looking for in my snack mix. Make sure to pin this for all your holiday snacking needs!

Compensation was provided by Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn via Mode MediaLast Thursday my family headed up to Los Angeles for US Weekly’s Family Movie Night at The Grove. We had such a fun night watching a movie under the stars!

Looking for something?

Instagram

Currently Obsessed With…

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Archives

Archives

I use affiliate links throughout this blog. I will never talk about or promote anything that I don't love or doesn't fit what I think you guys would want or need. Affiliate sales and sponsored work supports Cupcakes and Cutlery and allows me to create new content for you.
You can read my full disclosure policy here.

My name is Sharon Garofalow. Based in So Cal, I am the mom to two amazing little boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. This is where I share a collection of cool, created by me or curated from around the web. I focus on untraditional party themes, unfussy fashion and creative activities for your modern family.cupcakesandcutlery@gmail.com